Prime Minister David Cameron visits the County Times office in Horsham. Pic Steve Robards SR1616692 SUS-160613-162410001

Published:22:49Thursday 23 June 2016

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Three Tory MPs from Sussex backing the leave campaign have signed a letter calling for the Prime Minister to remain in post whatever the outcome of the EU referendum.

Lewes MP Maria Caulfield, Crawley MP Henry Smith, and Wealden MP Nus Ghani were among the 84 to sign the letter delivered to PM David Cameron as polls closed at 10pm tonight.

The letter read: “We, who are supporters of Vote Leave and members of the Conservative Parliamentary Party, thank you for giving the British people a choice of their destiny on June 23, 2016.

“We believe whatever the British people decide, you have both a mandate and a duty to continue leading the nation implementing our 2015 manifesto.”

Robert Syms, the Tory MP who delivered the letter, explained that ‘given the available time not possible to approach all vote leave colleagues to ask them to sign but many have expressed support for the PM’.

The other Sussex MPs backing the leave side are Eastbourne MP Caroline Ansell and East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton.

Ms Ghani tweeted earlier tonight: “Polls have closed & it’s been an exhausting campaign. Huge thanks to all the rain drenched volunteers. We promised a manifesto & it’s done.” She added: “We delivered the promised manifesto. Let’s see what the public decide. Looking forward to reuniting and delivering our election manifesto.

The first results in other parts of the country are expected just after midnight, but counts across the county, from Crawley to Hastings, are expected to declare between 2.30am with the latest expected at around 6.30am.

Based on early count declarations an initial indication of the overall referendum result could be made by 4am, but the 12 regional centres have to declare their results before an overall result can be officially announced at Manchester Town Hall, which is expected to happen at some time after 7am.

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